A Foundation- and Its Art

An essay on an Art Collection- at the Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains in Montrose, PA. - Brian Keeler

The art of collecting art takes many forms and fills a variety of personal needs for those who add art to their homes.   It takes on a wider meaning when paintings become part of a collection that is also a community foundation with a mission of creating financial support for regional organizations.  Such is the case with Earle Wootton and Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains with its home in Montrose, PA.  This article is part of a series that I have been doing over the years where I explore the motivations and appreciations of those who collect my art- and the art of others.

Above- Earle Wootton with two of the paintings by the author that are displayed on the second floor of the 1860 house that is the home of the Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains.

Art requires patronage and support.  Most frequently, in my career the support has come from individuals for the most part.  Businesses, corporations, a couple of museums and foundations have also come into the mix as well.  When looking at the history of art we can look at the way various government programs like the WPA (Works Progress Administration) , the National Endowment for the Arts and many others actively have contributed. But for them most part, for us artists the support comes from individuals.  So part of the goal in these essays on collectors is to show how art is important to them and how it becomes integral and often an heirloom that goes through generations.

 The Wootton's, Earle and his wife June have been immersed in the region in a variety of ways for many years.  Earl's previous work, which brought him into contact with a wide regional audience was as the publisher of the Montrose Independent, a weekly paper that he assumed the helm of in 1974 after the death of his father,  Earel E. Wooton.  Earle, the younger. operated the paper until 1997 when he sold the business to the Scranton TImes. So as I come from a weekly newspaper family as well- this commonality was a nice connection.

June Wootton has been involved regionally in many beneficial activities over her life.  For example she helped found "Camp Hope" an organization affiliated with Lord's Hospital in Binghamton, NY. She was involved with this for 18 years.  June was an RN and head nurse for over 40 years.  She and Earl usually decide on the art for their home and the foundation as a team.

Above- A painting by the author depicting a street scene in Lambertville, NJ.

This brings us to the vision of Earle's, which is this community-based organization and the restored house that is the home of the foundation.  It is in this beautiful and stately 1860 house in Montrose that serves as the home for the Endless Mountain Community Foundation.  It is in one of outer rooms (of the second floor) of this spacious interior that Earle has placed two of my large paintings and one smaller townscape that depict views of the region.   Art worked into the vision of community organization needs to augment the vision of the collector while supporting the mission of the foundation.  So it is an honor that Earle found the right canvases for this purpose.

A note about the process of aquisition is worth considering. There is policy that the the foundation itself does not purchase art. This mandate is to avoid even the appearance of impropropriety. Earle says the supporters expecting their supportive money to go directly to charitable projects may not appove of their contribuitons being spent in this way. So the art has to be given to the foundation. That does not mean however that artists have to donate their creations. Often what happens is that an intermediary patron will purchase the paintings and then the art will be given to the foundation.

Earle says that the interior needed something, namely paintings that would enliven the bare walls.

Earle grew up next door to this remarkable house and as it deteriorated over the years its restoration into the foundation's home became a natural extension of their mission.  The house had many owners over the years, so it was not really known as some old house are- which is by the name of the early owners or builders.  The house was on the verge of being carved up into apartments, which Earle feared could make the property a detriment- as he has witnessed other such projects with a similar fate.  The restoration was a huge project over many years with the results being a truly beautiful accomplishment.

The house was purchased by Earle and June in 1998 and the work finished in 2010.

An architect from Scranton, Thomas Horlacher was brought in to design the updates, and he created tasteful and beautiful additions and alterations.   There are major rooms that have been added on the ground floor including a spacious kitchen and dining area as well as a meeting room.  These additions are done very beautifully and fit in seamlessly with the 19th century part of the house.   The floors have been completely replaced throughout with a beautiful dark wood, a Brazilian Cherry.  Chair rails have been added for protection of the walls but these too have the look of the period.  Upstairs, a major change was made- the third floor bedrooms were taken out and a large skylight added.  This ateration made for a spacious atrium area and it was also done with consideration for how it would complement the house and for the new purpose from a residence into an office space, board rooms and event space. The museum-like atmosphere of the house recalls other similar repurposing of historic properties such as the Phelps Mansion Museum in Binghamton, NY or even the Frick Museum in New York CIty.

Above- The exterior of the 1860 house that is now the home of the foundation.

It is on the second floor where the foundation's offices and meeting rooms are located.  And it is here where most of the art is displayed.  The foundation has other historical works, some photos of the Nicholson Viaduct and some other prints. They also have a collage by another local artist, Linda Truman.  The deep hues of the interior make for a museum-like ambiance.  The muted blues of the walls serve as a perfect background color.

Among the artists whose work caught my eye during a recent tour of the house were paintings by a Montrose artist, the late Jim Webber.  I had not heard of Jim before so it is always a pleasant surprise to discover a new artist whose work I like.  He has two paintings of the viaducts- the one in Starrucca, PA and the other one in NIcholson, PA.  Those iconic and historic railroad bridges are part of our local heritage.  And Jim's paintings capture these structures well. He has another landscape with a barn that is reminiscent of another Pennsylvania artist of the 20th century,  that being Eric Sloan.

There is a nice copy of the famous painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware by artist from Cuba, Luis Mesa.  The original of this theme is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York CIty.  There is also a large silk screen that is displayed in a stairwell by Karen Farmer.  This work includes text provided by Earle that expresses the aspirations for the foundation. And there is a wonderful photo of the exterior of the house, a winter noturne by Kurt Van Zandenburg.

Above- a painting by Jim Webber of the Starucca Viaduct.

The foundation itself was formed 1997 by Earl and Bill Lewis.  They were given important assistance through a similar organization, The Williamsport/Lycoming Community Foundation. 

Currently there are 12 staff members at the foundation.  Their mandate covers a range of endeavors from financial support to grants to schools, charities and other non-profits.  They had an impressive year of philanthropy last year with a total 12 million awarded.  The concentration is within Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties and sometimes neighboring counties. 

So this remarkable success story of historic preservation, a vital community organization that benefits many and a collection of regional art is truly something to commend.  

NOTE- To view an interview with Earle Wootton done by Brian Keeler on September 17, 2026 go to the following link. Earle explains about the history and purpose of the Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains. https://youtu.be/H4n4Smeye54?si=J7fMO468aII1CKkR